Former First Dog Barney Bush -- a black Scottish terrier known for chasing golf balls and taking America on video tours of the White House -- has passed away after a battle with lymphoma. He was 12.

Former President George W. Bush announced on Friday the passing of the "little fellow," saying in a news release that "after twelve and a half years of life, his body could not fight off the illness."

"Barney was by my side during our eight years in the White House," said Bush, who also released Friday an oil painting he did of Barney. "He never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend. Laura and I will miss our pal."

Barney was born Sept. 30, 2000, according to his official biography. His mother was Coors, a Scottish Terrier owned by former Environmental Protection Agency Director Christine Todd Whitman, and his father was Kelly of Champion Motherwell Stormwarning.

"At Camp David, his favorite activity was chasing golf balls on the chipping green," Bush said. "Barney guarded the South Lawn entrance of the White House as if he were a Secret Service agent. He wandered the halls of the West Wing looking for treats from his many friends. He starred in Barney Cam and gave the American people Christmas tours of the White House."

Bush said Barney was a "fierce armadillo hunter" who "loved to accompany me when I fished for bass at the ranch." Bush also said the dog was "always polite" when meeting queens, heads of state and prime ministers and that Barney "never jumped in their laps."